looking back :(

well here we are, on our last opportunity to share our stories and advice... its crazy to think that i contacted the CDC to get a job before I got to WPI... I interviewed with them on my first week at WPI and got the job. I started as an office assistant. I learned so much about the resources available to students as well as about the process of interviewing. It was a great department to get involved with so early. I therefore had a resume ready by Freshman year so that when sophomore year came around with apps for off campus IQP's I was more than ready. Two years later I moved on into a Peer Advisor role, where we primarily marketed the Major Exploration Series (which at the time was the Major Selection Program) as well as helped to organize it. I learned even more in this, especially about the resources available as well as interviewing do's and dont's.

As for the rest of my WPI experience: coming in as a First Year, I had NO IDEA what I was getting ready to start: the new people, the new culture, and weather!!! classes were a smooth transition but everything else was a little rougher. I joined a couple of organizations, and with that a world of opportunities appeared before me. I met tons of people through these and I finally felt at home. Interestingly enough the culture lessons kept coming in till about NOW.

With sophomore year coming around, chemical engineering and applying for IQP were some of the top memories. It was definitely an academically busy year. I got accepted into the Thailand project center which I was thrilled about. That summer I got an internship with Johnson and Johnson which was awesome! I was in their pharmaceutical manufacturing department working on the validating process for two products that were about to go into the market = pretty awesome. I did that internship in Puerto Rico.

Junior year = WOW! Some of my best memories come from Junior year. I got very involved on campus and became extremely attached to WPI and the people. I learned a lot about myself, my personality, what I enjoy, and how much I appreciate the people around me. I got an internship for the summer in Miami about October, which was awesome. I also went to Thailand this C term and had the experience of a lifetime (I spent about a month in one of the poorest villages of the country). Finally, watching the Seniors graduate was really sad especially because we had gotten a lot closer to them. It was good to see what lied ahead of us.

Finally, SENIOR YEAR!!! With all its glory, it was definitely busy but eventually you have soo much free time because all your responsabilities kind of drift away. We just had project presentation day this past Thursday which was symbolic of seniors finishing up EVERYTHING! It went well, and now there are just some finishing touches. With Commencement coming up we can't help but get emotional. I find that we are all moving into different places and different programs. We all have different backgrounds, but we shared something truly unique: WPI.

I am finishing up this blog from Houston, where I am signing my apt. for the next year. So already feeling like we're moving on, I say this: I feel like I owe so much to WPI for ALL THE EXPERIENCES that I've gained while being here. A lot of who I am today is because of the education I received, the activities I became involved in, and the people I've met. It's been a wild ride, and something that every First Year should be excited about, every Sophomore should be living, and every Junior should be appreciating. Thank you to everyone who made it so amazing for me!!!!